battalion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "battalion" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a large military unit or a group of people organized for a specific purpose, often in a military context. Example: "The battalion was deployed to the front lines to support the ongoing operations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Eager to aid their country's military struggle, the so-called Donbas volunteer battalion was ready to fight, but appeared to be short on training.

The Guardian

The senior military officials passed on the information to their superiors shortly after receiving it, but got no order to send backup to Chibok, half an hour's drive from the nearest battalion.

The Guardian

Delimkhanov continues to sit as a Russian MP, and the Sever battalion, in which the Nemtsov murder suspect Zaur Dadayev served, is controlled by his brother.

The Guardian

Further, a US-trained battalion in the Democratic Republic of Congo was denounced by the United Nations for committing mass rapes.

The Guardian

What Farage calls his "Clacton battalion" clearly think their almost-certain victory will represent a huge watershed.

The Guardian

In August, his battalion was moved to Gallipoli, and on 21 August they were held in reserve for an attack on Scimitar Hill, a notoriously impossible prize – every time the Allies took it, they lost it again immediately, with huge casualties.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In a summit in Paris last week, the west African nations of Cameroon, Chad and Niger agreed to each contribute a battalion to form a border patrol troop based around the arid Sahelian belt, large swaths of which have fallen under the control of Islamist terrorists in recent years.

The Guardian

One group of residents said they dispatched a motorbike rider to the nearest battalion but no reinforcements came.

The Guardian

They said they were from the "Dnepr" volunteer battalion, a similar outfit to the Donbas battalion, made up of volunteers and trained in neighbouring Dnepropetrovsk region, funded by the local governor-oligarch, Ihor Kolomoysky.

The Guardian

It continues to provide technical training to military and police forces fighting Boko Haram and advanced training to a Nigerian infantry battalion.

The Guardian

But rather than join the Ukrainian army, he travelled east and signed up with a volunteer battalion.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about military operations, use "battalion" to specify a unit composed of multiple companies and a headquarters. Ensure your readers understand that it's a mid-sized, strategically important formation.

Common error

Avoid using "battalion" interchangeably with terms like "platoon" or "regiment". Using the wrong term can confuse readers about the scale of the military operation or force being described.

Linguistic Context

The word "battalion" functions primarily as a noun, referring to a military unit consisting of two or more companies and a headquarters. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples in news articles and other reliable sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "battalion" is a common noun referring to a specific military unit, as verified by Ludwig. It is grammatically correct and frequently used in diverse contexts, especially in news and media. When referring to the scale of armed forces, be precise with "battalion" and similar terms to avoid confusion. Alternatives such as "military unit" can provide a more general description. As Ludwig AI indicates, "battalion" is considered accurate and usable in written English. The term generally has a neutral tone, applicable across different forms of content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

military unit

This alternative is a more general term for a structured group of soldiers.

regiment

This term refers to a larger military unit, often comprised of multiple battalions.

army division

This term represents a larger military formation than a "battalion".

fighting force

This term emphasizes the combat role of the unit.

military force

This is a broader term referring to any armed group.

armed unit

A general term for a group of armed individuals.

troop

This term refers to a collection of soldiers, often smaller than a "battalion".

squadron

This term is commonly used for cavalry or air force units but can refer to a unit in general.

company

A smaller subunit within a "battalion".

platoon

An even smaller subunit within a company.

FAQs

How is a "battalion" typically structured?

A "battalion" usually consists of two or more companies and a headquarters element. It's a mid-sized military unit, often part of a larger regiment or brigade.

What's the difference between a "battalion" and a regiment?

A regiment is larger than a "battalion", typically comprising multiple battalions. Therefore, a regiment has more soldiers and greater operational capacity.

What can I use instead of "battalion" if I want a more general term?

You can use "military unit" or "armed unit" for a more general reference. The specific choice depends on the context.

Is "battalion" applicable only to ground forces?

While commonly used for ground forces, the term "battalion" can sometimes apply to other branches like aviation or engineering, though specific unit naming conventions may vary across different armed services.